Alexander vs Arran
Alexander and Arrancompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #13 and Arran #51 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alexander was ranked #36 and Arran #1025 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Alexander was ranked #40 and Arran #657 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2002, Alexander was ranked #60 and Arran #220 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Arran over time
Alexander and Arran appear together in 3 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Arran in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in Scotland · Boys, Alexander and Arran averaged 38.1 places apart, ending at #13 and #51.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Arran #207 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Arran in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Arran #207 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #36, Arran #1025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1979–2022
Alexander held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Arran in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #37 in 2014, Arran #196 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alexander #40, Arran #657.
Scotland · Boys22 shared years, 2024–2024
Alexander held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Arran in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #12 in 2024, Arran #51 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexander #13, Arran #51.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Alexander | Arran |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Alex, Xander, Sasha, Alessandro | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | Scotland · Boys #51 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Arran does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Arran.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Arran doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Arran a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Alexander
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #320 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2014 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Arran
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #292 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1025 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys